Business Development Manager

About Arena Club

If you're fascinated by sports cards and memorabilia, your search ends here. Arena Club is pioneering the collectibles domain by introducing the first-ever digital card show. Spearheaded by 5x World Series Champion Derek Jeter and serial entrepreneur Brian Lee, Arena Club has developed a fully digital marketplace. This innovative platform is built on trust, transparency, and fun, featuring grading & authentication, vaulting, and digital pack openings for collectors to build and showcase their collections in a personalized online showroom from anywhere in the world.

About the Role

To accelerate our growth and expand our go-to-market reach, Arena Club is seeking an experienced and driven Business Development Manager to join our team. This role is focused on identifying, negotiating, and executing partnerships with brands in sports, media, gaming, and entertainment that enhance our distribution and amplify our market presence.

You will own the full partnership lifecycle—from sourcing and negotiating to launching and optimizing collaborations. The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of closing high-impact deals, a deep network in relevant industries, and the ability to translate partnerships into tangible growth.

Responsibilities

• Partnership Sourcing & Pipeline Management – Identify and prioritize potential brand, media, and distribution partners that align with Arena Club's growth strategy; build and maintain a robust pipeline of opportunities.
• Deal Structuring & Negotiation – Lead negotiations from initial outreach to signed agreements, ensuring win-win terms that deliver measurable business impact.
• Relationship Management – Serve as the primary contact for key partners, fostering strong, long-term relationships and identifying expansion opportunities.
• Go-to-Market Integration – Work cross-functionally to integrate partnerships into product launches, marketing campaigns, and co-branded activations.
• Performance Tracking & Optimization – Monitor partnership performance, report on ROI, and make data-driven recommendations to improve outcomes.
• Market Insights – Stay on top of industry trends, competitive activity, and emerging opportunities to keep Arena Club ahead of the curve.
  
  

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of business development or partnership experience in sports, media, gaming, or entertainment
• Proven track record of sourcing, negotiating, and closing strategic partnerships that drive growth
• Established industry network and strong relationship-building skills
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation abilities
• Experience managing multiple deals at varying stages simultaneously
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Passion for sports, particularly NFL, NBA, and MLB
• Knowledgable about trading cards or other collectibles
• Experience with distribution-focused partnerships or brand collaborations
• Background in collectibles, trading cards, or enthusiast communities
• Familiarity with partnership analytics and ROI tracking tools
• Understanding of co-marketing campaigns and activation strategies